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November 2002 IBEW Journal

Good Work Picture
L.U. 131 (i,rtb,rts&spa), KALAMAZOO, MIOur work picture is very good. We have about 80 traveling members working at the Covert Power Plant for Newkirk Electric, and this work should continue throughout the fall and into next year.

Our annual golf outing was a huge success thanks to the extra efforts of Bro. Doug Bodie. Thanks to all who participated.

Our organizing campaign is moving forward and ready to take on a personal one-on-one contract.

I hope everyone voted in the November elections. Our future ultimately depends upon who we elect to represent us.

Mark Szekely, P.S.

Training in Full Swing
L.U. 141 (ees,i,o&u), WHEELING, WVWork remains slow in our area, with many members on Book I. Work has just begun on a new hotel at Wheeling Downs, and an expansion on Wheelings Federal Building.

Journeyman training is now in full swing, with classes on code changes and CPR already completed. Thanks to Instructors Charlie McFadden and Paul Simmons for their efforts.

A two-day celebration is planned, including a dinner-dance, for our 100-year anniversary. Our local was chartered Oct. 29, 1902, and the original copy still hangs in our meeting hall. Commemorative shirts are available at the union hall, as well as 2002 Code books.

Four of our members attended the National Training Institute in Knoxville. Many thanks to NJATC Executive Dir. A.J. Pearson and his staff for a well-organized and informative event.

Our condolences to the family of retired Bro. Robert Seiber, who passed away recently in Florida. Bob will be greatly missed.

We wish everyone in the Brotherhood the happiest of holiday seasons.

Tom Conner, P.S.

Labor Leaders Honored

L.U. 163 (ees&i), WILKES-BARRE, PAOur local recently found a unique way to honor our most contributing labor leaders.

The Luzerne County Historical Society, one of the oldest in the country, ran a bookend drive for its library, and our local purchased six. The handsome wood bookends have a brass-finished plate with custom engraving honoring our pioneers.

This endeavor was highlighted in Wilkes-Barres union newspaper for Labor Day. It gave us the opportunity to bring awareness to the public as well as our membership of the men whose mettle was tested and who sacrificed endlessly in the name of Brotherhood.

The late brothers honored are Pioneer and Charter member Willard F. Barber, first Bus. Agent and Organizer Anthony Love Lynch, and past Business Managers Charles Ransom, Eugene Burke and Charles Crawford.

The sixth bookend purchased represents the history of Local 163, serving Wilkes-Barre in the electrical construction industry and community service for over 101 years.

Guy B. DePasquale, Historian

First Paid Holiday
L.U. 177 (bo,ees,i,mo,&pet), JACKSONVILLE, FLLabor Day 2002 was a special day for all the members working under the Inside Collective Bargaining Agreement. It was the "First Paid Holiday" in local union history, and the first of six negotiated into the 2001 Inside Collective Bargaining agreement.

We celebrated our annual Labor Day picnic on Monday, September 2, with approximately 800 brothers, sisters and their families in attendance. There were games for the kids, food and music for all. Its always great to see old friends, reminisce about the "Good Ole Days," and remember our brothers and sisters who have passed away. This year we had a special remembrance for those brothers and sisters lost September 11, 2001.

Pres. Russell Harper and Bus. Mgr. Eddie Dedmon presented our Brother and Sister of the Year plaques for 2002. Bro. Mike Bickle was named Brother of the Year and Sister Pam Abernathy was named Sister of the Year.

Special thanks to Bus. Mgr. Eddie L. Dedmon, Pres. Russell Harper and the Labor Day Picnic Committee for another job well done with continued dedication to Local Union 177 and its members.

Lisa M. Stuart, P.S

New Officers

L.U. 193 (i,lctt,o,rts,spa&u), SPRINGFIELD, ILElections were held in June, and we congratulate Bus. Mgr./Fin. Sec. R. David Burns, Jr., Asst. Bus. Mgr. David Gurnsey, Organizer Glenn Baugh, Pres. Steve Antonacci, Vice Pres. Todd Starkweather, Rec. Sec. Susan Solon, Treas. James Gall, Executive Board members George Moore, George Alewelt and Gary Shepherd, Inside Examining Board members Kevin Benedict and Jay Long and Outside Examining Board members Harry Buck and Ray Gillespie.

On behalf of the membership, thanks and best of luck to outgoing Bus. Mgr./Fin. Sec. Mike Patsche and his assistant Mike Patterson. We are grateful for their selfless service to the local and hope for their continued involvement.

Union members made a strong showing in the Springfield Labor Day parade. Thanks to all who participated.

We also thank our sister locals for taking such good care of our traveling members while work in our area remains slow.

Visit us at our web site at http://ibew193.home.att.net.

Rick Shereda, P.S.